What inspections should be carried out when the pneumatic water drilling rig operating?

As a UNIQUE brand specializing in the R&D and production of pneumatic water well drilling rigs, we deeply understand the importance of stable equipment operation for construction efficiency, safety, and cost control. Many users overlook critical checks during the operation of pneumatic water well drilling rigs, leading to unexpected downtime, increased maintenance costs, and even delayed drilling progress. Today, UNIQUE will break down the core inspection points for drilling rig operation in detail and provide professional solutions to common high-temperature problems, helping you maximize equipment utilization.

Essential Environmental Checks Before & During Operation: Lay a Solid Foundation for Safe Construction

Environmental checks are the “first line of defense” for the safe startup of pneumatic water well drilling rigs. They should be conducted 30 minutes before each startup and every 2 hours during operation, focusing on the following two types of risks:

1. Clear Obstacles in the Operation Range

A comprehensive inspection of the ground and air environment within a 10-meter radius of the drilling rig is required:

• On the ground: Remove potholes (depth > 30cm), large ore rocks (diameter > 50cm), waste pipes, weeds, water puddles, and other objects that may hinder the rig’s movement or drilling.
• In the air: Pay attention to high-voltage power lines (distance from the top of the rig must be > 5 meters) and tree branches (truncate those lower than the rig’s mast) to avoid collisions or electric shock risks when the equipment moves.

If obstacles are found, use excavators, loaders, or other tools for thorough cleaning. Manual handling of heavy debris is strictly prohibited to prevent accidental injuries.

2. Compliance Inspection of Travel Roads

The standard travel requirements for UNIQUE pneumatic water well drilling rigs are:

• Road width ≥ 4 meters (≥ 6 meters if two-way traffic is needed);
• Turning radius ≥ 4.5 meters (can be relaxed to 4 meters for small rigs, but slow driving is required);
• Road bearing capacity ≥ 150 kPa (approximately 15 tons per square meter).

If the road width is insufficient, use gravel or sand to widen it, with a padding thickness of ≥ 10cm and proper compaction. For soft roads (e.g., muddy ground), lay steel plates or subgrade boxes to prevent the rig from sinking. For roads with slopes (> 15°), level them into gentle slopes in advance to avoid the rig slipping or rolling over during movement.

Systematic Inspection of Electrical Equipment: Ensure Stable Power & Control

Electrical equipment is the “nerve center” of the drilling rig, and even minor faults can trigger chain problems. UNIQUE recommends inspecting items in the order of “carriage → drilling mechanism → travel system → electrical components” before each daily startup, with specific points as follows:

1. Inspection of Carriage Structure & Key Components

• Welded structure: Use a weld inspection ruler to check the welds of the carriage’s main beam and support frame. If cracks (length > 5mm), slag detachment, or insufficient welding are found, stop the machine immediately. Have professional welders perform repair welding using CO₂ gas shielded welding. After welding, smooth the surface and apply anti-rust treatment.
• Support rods & connectors: UNIQUE drilling rigs are equipped with high-strength manganese steel support rods. During inspection, ensure no bending (deformation < 3°) or rust (rusted area < 10%). Use a torque wrench to check bolts (M16 and above), ensuring the tightening torque reaches 80-100 N·m. For steel wire ropes, check the number of broken wires (replace if > 3 broken wires in a single strand) and wear degree (scrap if diameter reduction > 10%).
• Rod Feeder: The jaws of the upper and lower rod feeders should be free of deformation and wear (thickness reduction < 2mm). The connecting bolts must not be loose. Adjust the tensioning device (spring or hydraulic rod) to a state where “the jaws can firmly clamp the drill pipe without jamming during disassembly.”

2. Functional Inspection of the Drilling Operation Part

• Rotary mechanism: Manually rotate the rotary gear to ensure no jamming or abnormal noise. Check the tightening torque of the fixing bolts (M12 specification) to be ≥ 50 N·m. For the lubrication system, confirm that the lubricating oil (46# anti-wear hydraulic oil) level in the gearbox is between 1/2 and 2/3 of the oil gauge. If lubrication is insufficient, replenish it in time to avoid dry friction damage to the gears.
• Front Joint & Bearing: The front joint bolts must not be loose, and there should be no oil leakage at the connection between the bearing gland and the hollow main shaft. Ensure no radial runout (error < 0.5mm) when rotating the main shaft.
• Dust Removal System: Check that the dust removal pipeline is not blocked (use compressed air to purge if necessary) and the filter bag is not damaged. If the dust removal effect is poor, replace the filter bag or clean the dust accumulated in the pipeline to prevent dust from entering the mechanism and affecting its service life.
• Electric Winch: Test the electromagnetic brake function. Pull the winch handle to the “brake” position; the winch should stop rotating immediately and remain stationary for 3 minutes under no-load conditions without slipping. If the brake fails, check the wear of the brake pads (replace if thickness < 3mm) and whether the electromagnetic coil is energized normally.

3. Status Inspection of the Travel Part

• Transmission components: The belt should be free of cracks and slack (the sag should be ≤ 15mm when pressing the middle of the belt). The chain should be fully lubricated (apply special chain oil) without jamming. The track plates must not be broken, and the track pins must not fall off. Adjust the track tension to a state where “the middle of the track is lifted, and the ground clearance is ≤ 30cm.”
• Clutch & Lifting Mechanism: The clutch pedal stroke should be 15-20cm. It should fully disengage when pressed without slipping. Confirm that the moving gear of the rig’s lifting mechanism is disengaged (to avoid damage caused by gear meshing during travel), which can be verified by manually rotating the gear.

4. Safety Inspection of the Electrical System

• Component Integrity: Check that the casings of electrical components such as distribution boxes, motors, and junction boxes are not damaged. The cables should be free of aging (no cracking of the insulation layer) and exposure. The plugs and sockets must not be loose.
• Protection Devices: The electrical system of UNIQUE water drilling rigs is equipped with a standard air switch (rated current 32A) and fuse (10A) to prevent short circuits and overloads. Before startup, confirm that the air switch is in the “closed” state and the fuse is not blown. If the air switch trips or the fuse blows after startup, first turn off the main power supply. Check for line short circuits (e.g., cable wear touching the machine body) or motor overload (e.g., jamming causing excessive current). Replace the fuse with the same model (copper wire replacement is prohibited) after troubleshooting.
• Operation Handles: All operation handles (e.g., rotation, lifting, travel) should be reset to the “stop” position to avoid sudden equipment movement and potential dangers after startup.

Comprehensive Inspection of Drilling Tools: Avoid “Drill Breakage” & “Drill Sticking” During Drilling

Drilling tools are core components that directly contact rock formations, and their condition directly affects drilling efficiency and safety. UNIQUE reminds you to inspect them according to the following standards before each drill pipe replacement or startup:

1. Inspection of Drill Pipes & Joints

• Joint Condition: The drill pipe joint should be free of cracks (detectable with a magnetic flaw detector or by tapping with a hammer—clear sound indicates normal, hoarse sound may indicate cracks) and deformation. The threads should not be stripped. After cleaning the rock debris on the threads, test with a standard joint; it should be able to be smoothly screwed in for more than 3 turns.
• Drill Pipe Integrity: The drill pipe (UNIQUE uses 45# seamless steel pipes) should be free of bending (straightness error < 1mm/m) and depression. The inner wall should be free of scaling (clean with a wire brush if necessary). If obvious damage is found on the drill pipe, replace it immediately.

2. Inspection of the Impactor

• Casing Condition: The impactor casing should be free of cracks and welding marks (non-original factory welding results in insufficient casing strength and easy cracking). The air inlet and exhaust port should not be blocked (purge with compressed air if necessary).
• Internal Function: Connect compressed air; the impactor should impact normally without abnormal noise. If the impact force is weak or jamming occurs, disassemble it to check for wear on internal pistons and valve plates, and replace worn parts before use.

3. Inspection of the Drill Bit

• Alloy Inserts (Blocks): The cemented carbide inserts (UNIQUE uses YG11C tungsten-cobalt alloy) on the drill bit surface should be free of unwelding (check for no weld cracking), chipping (no edge breakage of the alloy inserts), and pulling-off. If the wear of the alloy inserts exceeds 50%, replace the drill bit to avoid affecting drilling speed.
• Drill Bit Body: The drill bit body should be free of deformation and cracks. The slag discharge grooves should not be blocked (clean the rock debris in the grooves) to ensure smooth discharge of rock debris during drilling and reduce the risk of drill sticking.

High-Temperature Issues of UNIQUE Pneumatic Water Well Drilling Rigs: Causes + Solutions + Prevention Tips

During long-term construction, drilling rigs may experience three types of high-temperature issues: gearbox high temperature, hydraulic oil high temperature, and engine coolant high temperature. Combining over 10 years of production experience, UNIQUE has summarized targeted solutions:

1. Gearbox High Temperature (Normal Operating Temperature: 40-60℃; Take Action if Exceeding 80℃)

• Core Causes:

① Oversized/undersized dimensions or irregular shapes of bearings or gears (e.g., excessive bearing clearance, worn gear tooth surfaces);

② Non-compliant oil (e.g., using ordinary oil instead of special anti-wear gear oil, or deteriorated oil);

③ Poor gearbox heat dissipation (e.g., blocked heat sinks, faulty fans).

• Solutions:

① Use a micrometer to detect bearing dimensions and replace over-tolerance bearings; use gear testing equipment to check tooth surfaces and replace severely worn gears;

② Replace with UNIQUE-recommended 85W-90 heavy-duty industrial gear oil, and fill to the level specified by the oil gauge;

③ Clean dust on the heat sinks (with a high-pressure air gun) and repair or replace faulty fans.

Prevention Tips: Check the oil level and oil quality weekly (replace if the oil turns black or contains impurities); replace the oil every 500 hours; clean the heat sinks monthly.

2. Hydraulic Oil High Temperature (Normal Operating Temperature: 30-55℃; Take Action if Exceeding 65℃)

• Core Causes:

Rapid Heat Generation: Hydraulic system issues such as internal leakage in the pump (body wear, aged seals), jamming in hydraulic valves (valve core wear), and leakage in cylinders (damaged seals) contribute to heat generation. Additionally, unsealed oil inlets, blocked filters, and obstructed pipelines exacerbate the problem. Internal pump leakage heats the hydraulic oil, causing a rapid temperature rise.

Slow Heat Dissipation: Blocked internal channels of the hydraulic oil radiator, excessive dust on the external surface of the radiator, insufficient air volume, or failure of the hydraulic oil to pass through the hydraulic oil radiator. These factors may cause slow heat dissipation and overheating of the hydraulic oil.

• Solutions:

① Inspect the hydraulic pump, hydraulic valve, and oil cylinder; replace worn seals or components; replace the seals of the oil inlet pipe and clean the oil inlet filter element (replace if severely blocked);

② Flush the internal channels of the hydraulic oil radiator with a special cleaning agent, clean external dust with a high-pressure water gun; repair the fan motor or replace the blades; confirm that the radiator valve is in the “fully open” state;

③ Replenish or replace with UNIQUE-recommended 46# anti-wear hydraulic oil (filter the oil to avoid impurity mixing).

• Prevention Tips: Check the hydraulic oil level daily; replace the oil inlet filter element every 200 hours; replace the hydraulic oil and clean the radiator every 1000 hours; check the seal condition monthly.

3. Engine Coolant High Temperature (Normal Operating Temperature: 80-90℃; Take Action if Exceeding 95℃)

Core Causes: Insufficient coolant (leakage or evaporation), blocked internal water tank (scale accumulation), faulty water pump (impeller wear causing poor water circulation), stuck thermostat (failure to open, preventing coolant from entering the large circulation), loose fan belt (insufficient fan speed).

Solutions:

① Add UNIQUE-specified long-life coolant (tap water is prohibited to avoid scale); check for leaks in water pipes and water tanks and repair leak points;

② Clean scale inside the water tank with a citric acid solution and unclog the pipes;

③ Overhaul the water pump and replace worn impellers; replace the stuck thermostat;

④ Adjust the fan belt tension (sag ≤ 10mm when pressing the middle of the belt).

• Prevention Tips: Check the coolant level daily; replace the coolant and clean the water tank every 2000 hours; check the fan belt and water pump status monthly.

Why Choose UNIQUE Pneumatic Water Well Drilling Rigs?

UNIQUE has been deeply engaged in the pneumatic water well drilling rig industry for 15+ years. All equipment has passed ISO9001 quality certification, and core components (such as drill pipes, impactors, and electrical systems) are custom-made by the original factory to ensure stability and durability. Meanwhile, we provide 24/7 technical support (including remote guidance and on-site maintenance) and original factory spare parts supply services for global customers, helping you reduce equipment failure rates and improve construction efficiency.

If you encounter problems in the inspection, use, or maintenance of pneumatic water well drilling rigs, please feel free to contact the UNIQUE technical team—we will provide you with professional solutions. If you have equipment procurement needs, you can also consult us, and we will customize exclusive models according to your construction scenarios (e.g., rock formation hardness, drilling depth).